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ULTRAPAR HOLDINGS INC

Foreign Filer Report Mar 5, 2004

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6-K 1 mar0304_6k.htm mar0304_6k

Form 6-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549

Report Of Foreign Private Issuer Pursuant To Rule 13a-16 Or 15d-16 Of The Securities Exchange Act Of 1934

For the month of March, 2004

Commission File Number: 001-14950

ULTRAPAR HOLDINGS INC. (Translation of Registrant’s Name into English)

Avenida Brigadeiro Luis Antonio, 1343, 9º Andar São Paulo, SP, Brazil 01317-910 (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:

Form 20-F X Form 40-F

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):

Yes No X

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):

Yes No X

Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this Form, the Registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:

Yes No X

If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): N/A

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ULTRAPAR HOLDINGS INC.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ITEM
1. Independent
Auditors’ Report dated December 31, 2003

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ITEM 1

(Convenience Translation into English from the Original Previously Issued in Portuguese)

| Ultrapar Participações
S.A. and Subsidiaries |
| --- |
| Financial Statements for the Years
Ended December 31, 2003 and 2002 and Independent Auditors’ Report |
| Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Auditores Independentes |

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(Convenience Translation into English from the Original Previously Issued in Portuguese)

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT To the Stockholders and Management of Ultrapar Participações S.A. São Paulo - SP

| 1. | We have audited the accompanying balance sheets, Company and Consolidated, of Ultrapar Participações S.A. and subsidiaries (“Companies”) as of December 31, 2003 and
2002, and the related statements of income, changes in stockholders’ equity (Company), and changes in financial position for the years then ended, all expressed in Brazilian reais and prepared under the responsibility of the Company’s
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements. |
| --- | --- |
| 2. | Our audits were conducted
in accordance with auditing standards in Brazil and comprised: (a) planning
of the work, taking into consideration the significance of the balances,
volume of transactions, and the accounting and internal control systems
of the Companies; (b) checking, on a test basis, the evidence and records
that support the amounts and accounting information disclosed; and (c)
evaluating the significant accounting practices and estimates adopted
by Company’s management, as well as the presentation of the financial
statements taken as a whole. |
| 3. | In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial positions, Company and Consolidated, of Ultrapar Participações
S.A. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2003 and 2002, and the results of their operations, the changes in stockholders’ equity (Company) and the changes in their financial positions for the years then ended in conformity with Brazilian
accounting practices. |
| 4. | The accompanying financial statements have been translated into English for the convenience of readers outside Brazil. |

São Paulo, January 30, 2004
DELOITTE TOUCHE TOHMATSU Altair Tadeu Rossato
Auditores Independentes Engagement Partner

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(Convenience Translation into English from the Original Previously Issued in Portuguese)

ULTRAPAR PARTICIPAÇÕES S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES

BALANCE SHEETS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2003 AND 2002 (In thousands of Brazilian reais - R$)

ASSETS Company — 2003 2002 Consolidated — 2003 2002
CURRENT
ASSETS
Cash
and banks 248 60 46.743 53.569
Temporary
cash investments 23.38 78.98 507.347 584.370
Trade
accounts receivable -- -- 322.323 278.012
Inventories -- -- 137.708 106.250
Recoverable
taxes 13.30 13.74 115.512 115.060
Dividends
receivable 43.09 55.60 621 105
Other 3.62 9 31.641 46.332
Prepaid
expenses -- -- 2.835 3.197
83.654 148.402 1.164.730 1.186.895
NONCURRENT
ASSETS
Related
companies 51.611 46.694 2.759 2.603
Deferred
income and social contribution taxes 2.576 2.033 61.367 33.257
Escrow
deposits -- -- 9.904 6.992
Other -- -- 9.172 4.530
54.187 48.727 83.202 47.382
PERMANENT
ASSETS
Investments:
Subsidiary
and affiliated companies 1.690.492 1.503.418 5.721 7.128
Other 347 337 27.396 25.908
Property,
plant and equipment -- -- 968.555 779.467
Deferred
charges -- -- 102.663 81.133
1.690.839 1.503.755 1.104.335 893.636
1.828.680 1.700.884 2.352.267 2.127.913
TOTAL
LIABILITIES Company — 2003 2002 Consolidated — 2003 2002
CURRENT
LIABILITIES
Financing -- -- 325.877 219.827
Suppliers 51 58 90.281 104.436
Payroll
and related charges 412 280 74.741 64.379
Taxes 34 29 12.770 9.952
Dividends
payable 39.028 45.012 41.736 48.953
Income
and social contribution 60 -- 6.581 1.920
Other -- 121 25.119 18.763
39.585 45.500 577.105 468.230
LONG-TERM
LIABILITIES
Financing -- -- 306.269 363.639
Related
companies 421.633 458.597 8.989 10.217
Deferred
income and social -- -- 28.696 34.791
contribution
taxes
Other
taxes 7.173 5.703 39.985 27.036
Other -- -- 2.319 1.966
428.806 464.300 386.258 437.649
MINORITY
INTEREST -- -- 32.211 30.950
STOCKHOLDERS’
EQUITY
Capital 663.952 663.952 663.952 663.952
Capital
reserve 1.152 -- 9 --
Revaluation
reserve 17.787 26.036 17.787 26.036
Profit
reserves 677.495 501.494 677.495 501.494
Treasury
shares (97) (398) (2.550) (398)
1.360.289 1.191.084 1.356.693 1.191.084
TOTAL
MINORITY INTEREST AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY D -- -- 1.388.904 1.222.034
TOTAL 1.828.680 1.700.884 2.352.267 2.127.913
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial
statements.

2

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(Convenience Translation into English from the Original Previously Issued in Portuguese)

| ULTRAPAR PARTICIPAÇÕES S.A. AND
SUBSIDIARIES | | | | | | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| STATEMENTS OF INCOME | | | | | | | | |
| FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2003 AND 2002 | | | | | | | | |
| (In thousands of Brazilian reais - R$) | | | | | | | | |
| | Company | | | | Consolidated | | | |
| | 2003 | | 2002 | | 2003 | | 2002 | |
| GROSS SALES AND SERVICES | - | | - | | 4.603.778 | | 3.795.322 | |
| Taxes on sales and services | - | | - | | (248.143 | ) | (219.924 | ) |
| Rebates, discounts and returns | - | | - | | (355.326 | ) | (580.892 | ) |
| NET SALES AND SERVICES | - | | - | | 4.000.309 | | 2.994.506 | |
| Cost of sales and services | - | | - | | (3.196.445 | ) | (2.247.128 | ) |
| GROSS PROFIT | - | | - | | 803.864 | | 747.378 | |
| EQUITY IN SUBSIDIARY AND AFFILIATED | | | | | | | | |
| COMPANIES | 236.811 | | 214.405 | | 51.894 | | 41.760 | |
| OPERATING (EXPENSES) INCOME | | | | | | | | |
| Selling | - | | - | | (163.665 | ) | (130.190 | ) |
| General and administrative | (112 | ) | (240 | ) | (188.610 | ) | (165.550 | ) |
| Management compensation | (518 | ) | (295 | ) | (5.183 | ) | (4.704 | ) |
| Depreciation and amortization | - | | - | | (101.390 | ) | (81.824 | ) |
| Other operating income, net | 440 | | 361 | | 6.567 | | 428 | |
| OPERATING INCOME BEFORE FINANCIAL | 236.621 | | 214.231 | | 403.477 | | 407.298 | |
| ITEMS | | | | | | | | |
| Financial income (expenses), net | 15.225 | | 16.916 | | (22.167 | ) | 61.395 | |
| CPMF/IOF/PIS/COFINS taxes on financial activities | (588 | ) | (1.887 | ) | (35.081 | ) | (32.886 | ) |
| OPERATING INCOME | 251.258 | | 229.260 | | 346.229 | | 435.807 | |
| Nonoperating (expenses) income, net | (3 | ) | (143 | ) | 1.007 | | (44.067 | ) |
| INCOME BEFORE INCOME AND SOCIAL | | | | | | | | |
| CONTRIBUTION TAXES | 251.255 | | 229.117 | | 347.236 | | 391.740 | |
| INCOME AND SOCIAL CONTRIBUTION TAXES | | | | | | | | |
| Current | (5.419 | ) | (7.260 | ) | (112.953 | ) | (110.067 | ) |
| Deferred | 543 | | 443 | | 15.730 | | (4.843 | ) |
| | (4.876 | ) | (6.817 | ) | (97.223 | ) | (114.910 | ) |
| INCOME BEFORE MINORITY INTEREST | 246.379 | | 222.300 | | 250.013 | | 276.830 | |
| Minority interest | - | | - | | (3.634 | ) | (54.530 | ) |
| NET INCOME | 246.379 | | 222.300 | | 246.379 | | 222.300 | |
| NET EARNINGS PER THOUSAND SHARES | | | | | | | | |
| (BASED ON ANNUAL WEIGHTED AVERAGE) -R$ | 3,54 | | 3,62 | | | | | |
| The accompanying notes are an integral part
of these financial statements. | | | | | | | | |

3

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(Convenience Translation into English from the Original Previously Issued in Portuguese)

ULTRAPAR PARTICIPAÇÕES S.A.

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2003 AND 2002 (In thousands of Brazilian reais - R$)

Capital Capital reserve Revaluation reserve of subsidiary and affiliated companies
Profit
reserves
Legal Retention of profits Realizable
profits Retained earnings Treasury shares Total
BALANCES
AT DECEMBER 31, 2001 433.857 -- 25.862 17.43 322.743 -- -- -- 799.893
Capital
increase due to merger 230.095 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 230.095
Acquisition
of treasury shares -- -- -- -- -- -- -- (398) (398)
Revaluation
due to merger -- -- 5.139 -- -- -- -- -- 5.139
Realization
of revaluation reserve -- -- (5.084) -- -- -- 4.384 -- (700)
Income
and social contribution taxes on realization of revaluation -- -- 119 -- -- -- (364) -- (245)
Net
income -- -- -- -- -- -- 222.300 -- 222.300
Appropriation
of net income:
Legal
reserve -- -- -- 11.115 -- -- (11.115) -- --
Interim
dividends (R$ 0.367112 and R$ 0.403823 per thousand common and preferred shares, respectively) -- -- -- -- -- -- (20.000) -- (20.000)
Proposed
dividends payable (R$ 0.629268 and R$ 0.692195 per thousand common and preferred shares, respectively) -- -- -- -- -- -- 45.000) -- (45.000)
Realizable
profits reserve -- -- -- -- -- 40.593 (40.593) -- --
Reserve
for retention of profits -- -- -- -- 109.612 -- (109.612) -- --
BALANCES
AT DECEMBER 31, 2002 663.952 -- 26.036 28.546 432.35 40.593 -- (398) 1.191.084
Acquisition
of treasury shares -- -- -- -- -- -- -- (2.173 (2.173)
Sale
of treasury shares -- 1.152 -- -- -- -- -- 2.474 3.626
Realization
of revaluation reserve -- -- (8.249) -- -- -- 1.733 -- (6.516)
Income
and social contribution taxes on realization of revaluation reserves of subsidiaries -- -- -- -- -- -- (111) -- (111)
Realization
of profit reserve -- -- -- -- -- (40.593 40.593 -- --
Net
income -- -- -- -- -- -- 246.379 -- 246.379
Appropriation
of net income:
Legal
reserve -- -- -- 12.319 -- -- (12.319) -- --
Interim
dividends (R$ 0.461996 and R$ 0.508195 per thousand common and preferred shares, respectively) -- -- -- -- -- -- (33.000) -- (33.000)
Proposed
dividends payable (R$ 0.545231 and R$ 0.599754 per thousand common and preferred
shares,respectively) -- -- -- -- -- -- (39.000) -- (39.000)
Realizable
profits reserve -- -- -- -- -- 85.622 (85.622) -- --
Reserve
for retention of profits -- -- -- -- 118.653 -- (118.653) -- --
BALANCES
AT DECEMBER 31, 2003 663.95 1.152 17.787 40.865 551.00 85.622 -- (97) 1.360.289
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Para Flush"

4

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(Convenience Translation into English from the Original Previously Issued in Portuguese)

ULTRAPAR PARTICIPAÇÕES S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN FINANCIAL POSITION
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2003 AND 2002
(In thousands of Brazilian reais - R$)
Company Consolidated
2003 2002 2003 2002
SOURCES OF FUNDS
Operations:
Net income 246.379 222.300 246.379 222.300
Items not affecting working capital:
Equity in subsidiary and affiliated companies (236.811 ) (214.405 ) (51.894 ) (41.760 )
Depreciation and amortization - - 145.437 121.809
Tax incentives - - 52.409 43.467
Long-term interest and monetary variations 975 686 (30.264 ) 98.285
Deferred income and social contribution taxes (543 ) (443 ) (15.730 ) 4.843
Minority interest - - 3.634 54.530
Net book value of permanent assets written off 3 - 22.208 29.931
Other long-term taxes 512 651 3.924 8.568
Gain on change in ownership percentage - - - (3.660 )
Amortization of goodwill and negative goodwill on investments - (4 ) 2.754 (352 )
Provision (reversal of provision) for losses on permanent assets 3 - (440 ) 40.551
10.518 8.785 378.417 578.512
From stockholders:
Disposal of treasury shares 3.626 - 30 -
Third parties:
Increase in long-term liabilities - 383.757 2.837 -
Decrease in noncurrent assets - 50.504 - 631
Proposed dividends and interest on capital (gross) 43.094 56.430 - 430
Working capital from merger - 50 - 50
Long-term financing - - 258.645 68.748
43.094 490.741 261.482 69.859
Total sources of funds 57.238 499.526 639.929 648.371
USES OF FUNDS
Permanent assets:
Investments - 387.160 1.695 -
Property, plant and equipment - - 299.533 171.543
Deferred charges - - 87.158 51.265
- 387.160 388.386 222.808
Dividends and interest on capital 72.000 65.000 72.865 76.252
Transfer from long-term to current liabilities - - 280.432 85.965
Decrease in long-term liabilities 36.981 - - 51.233
Increase in noncurrent assets 4.917 - 26.004 -
Acquisition of treasury shares 2.173 398 2.173 398
Acquisition of shares from minority stockholders - - - 212.594
Taxes on realization of revaluation reserve - - 254 758
Decrease in minority interest - - 855 966
44.071 398 309.718 351.914
Total uses of funds 116.071 452.558 770.969 650.974
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN WORKING CAPITAL (58.833 ) 46.968 (131.040 ) (2.603 )
REPRESENTED BY
Current assets:
At end of year 83.654 148.402 1.164.730 1.186.895
At beginning of year 148.402 78.204 1.186.895 1.045.186
(64.748 ) 70.198 (22.165 ) 141.709
Current liabilities:
At end of year 39.585 45.500 577.105 468.230
At beginning of year 45.500 22.270 468.230 323.918
(5.915 ) 23.230 108.875 144.312
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN WORKING CAPITAL (58.833 ) 46.968 (131.040 ) (2.603 )

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

5

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(Convenience Translation into English from the Original Previously Issued in Portuguese)

ULTRAPAR PARTICIPAÇÕES S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2003 AND 2002 (Amounts in thousands of Brazilian reais - R$)

1. OPERATIONS
The Company
invests in commercial and industrial activities, including subscription
or purchase of shares of other companies with similar activities.
Through
its subsidiaries, the Company is engaged in the distribution of liquefied
petroleum gas - LPG (Ultragaz), production and sale of chemical and petrochemical
products (Oxiteno), and logistics services for chemical products and fuel
(Ultracargo).
2. PRESENTATION
OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING PRACTICES
The
accounting practices adopted to record transactions and prepare the financial
statements are those established by accounting practices adopted in Brazil
and by the Brazilian Securities Commission (CVM).
a) Determination
of net income
Determined
on the accrual basis of accounting.
b) Current
and noncurrent assets
Temporary
cash investments are stated at cost, plus accrued income (on a “pro
rata temporis” basis), which approximate market value.
The
allowance for doubtful accounts is based on estimated losses and is considered
by management to be sufficient to cover potential losses on the realization
of accounts receivable.
Inventories
are stated at the average cost of acquisition or production, or at market
or net realizable value, whichever is lower.
Other
assets are stated at the lower of cost or probable realizable values, including,
when applicable, accrued income and monetary variations or net of allowances
for potential losses.

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Ultrapar Participações S.A. and Subsidiaries

| | c) | Permanent
assets | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| | | Stated
at cost monetarily restated through December 31, 1995, and in nominal
amounts from that date, combined with the following aspects: | |
| | | • | Significant investments
in subsidiary and affiliated companies are recorded under the equity method,
as shown in Note 10. |
| | | • | Property, plant and
equipment include revaluation write-ups based on appraisal reports issued
by independent appraisers. |
| | | • | Depreciation is calculated
on the straight-line basis at the annual rates described in Note 11, based
on the economic useful lives of the assets. |
| | | • | Deferred charges mainly
comprise costs incurred in the implementation of projects to install equipment
at customers’ facilities, projects to modernize systems, and goodwill
on acquisition of subsidiaries, as mentioned in Note 12. |
| | d) | Current
and long-term liabilities | |
| | | Stated
at known or estimated amounts including, when applicable, accrued charges
and monetary variations. The provision for income tax includes tax incentives,
when applicable. Deferred income and social contribution taxes on temporary
differences are recorded as set forth by CVM Resolution No. 273/98. | |
| | e) | Basis for translation of the financial statements of foreign subsidiaries | |
| | | The
financial statements of foreign subsidiaries are translated into Brazilian
reais at the prevailing exchange rate. The criteria for preparation of
the financial statements have been changed to conform to accounting practices
adopted in Brazil. | |
| | f) | Certain
balances have been reclassified for better comparison of the financial
statements. | |
| 3. | CONSOLIDATION
PRINCIPLES | | |
| | The
consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with the
basic consolidation principles established by accounting practices adopted
in Brazil and by the Brazilian Securities Commission (CVM) and include
the following direct and indirect subsidiaries: | | |

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Ultrapar Participações S.A. and Subsidiaries

| | Ownership
- % — 2003 | | 2002 | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| | Direct | Indirect | Direct | Indirect |
| Ultragaz
Participações Ltda. | 100 | - | 100 | - |
| Companhia
Ultragaz S.A. | - | 86 | - | 86 |
| SPGás
Distribuidora de Gás S.A. | - | 86 | - | - |
| Bahiana
Distribuidora de Gás Ltda. | - | 100 | - | 100 |
| Utingás
Armazenadora S.A. | - | 56 | - | 56 |
| LPG
International Inc. | - | 100 | - | 100 |
| Ultracargo
- Operações Logísticas e Participações
Ltda. | 100 | - | 100 | - |
| Melamina
Ultra S.A. Indústria Química | - | 93 | - | 93 |
| Transultra
- Armazenamento e Transporte | | | | |
| Especializado
Ltda. | - | 100 | - | 100 |
| Terminal
Químico de Aratu S.A. - Tequimar | - | 99 | - | 99 |
| Oxiteno
S.A. - Indústria e Comércio | 100 | - | 100 | - |
| Oxiteno
Nordeste S.A. - Indústria e Comércio | - | 99 | - | 99 |
| Barrington
S.L. | - | 100 | - | - |
| Canamex
Químicos S.A. de C.V. | - | 100 | - | - |
| Oxiteno
International Co. | - | 100 | - | 100 |
| Oxiteno
Overseas Co. | - | 100 | - | 100 |
| Imaven Imóveis
e Agropecuária Ltda. | 100 | - | 100 | - |

Intercompany investments, asset and liability balances, income and expenses, as well as the effects arising from significant intercompany transactions, were eliminated. Minority interest in subsidiary companies is presented separately in the financial statements.

In 2002, the Company undertook a corporate reorganization, disclosed in a relevant fact published on October 15, 2002, and approved at the Extraordinary Stockholders’ Meeting of October 30, 2002. This reorganization was primarily aimed at: (i) streamlining the corporate structure of subsidiaries and affiliated companies, (ii) cost rationalization, and (iii) concentration of capital market liquidity in one company.

The corporate reorganization was based on the balance sheets of June 30, 2002. As a consequence, the Company had full participation in the results of Ultragaz Participações Ltda. and Oxiteno S.A. - Indústria e Comércio from July 1, 2002.

On August 8, 2003, the Company acquired, through the subsidiary Companhia Ultragaz S.A., the LPG distribution business of Shell in Brazil (SPGás Distribuidora de Gás S.A.). The disbursement for this acquisition was R$ 170,566, involving 100% of the company’s shares, without assumption of any debt. The financial statements for 2003 contain the balances and values of this operation since its acquisition in August 2003. The goodwill of R$ 24,427 on this operation is based on the expected future profitability, and shall be amortized over a period of five years beginning August 2003.

On December 4, 2003, the Company acquired, through the subsidiary Barrington S.L., the chemicals business of the Berci Group in Mexico (Canamex Químicos S.A. de C.V.). The disbursement for this acquisition was US$ 10,250, without assumption of any debt. The financial statements for 2003 contain the balances and values of this operation since its acquisition in December 2003.

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Ultrapar Participações S.A. and Subsidiaries

| | On December
31, 2003, the Company merged the subsidiaries Ultratecno Participações
Ltda. into Ultragaz Participações Ltda., Ultracargo Participações
Ltda. into Oleoquímica do Nordeste Ltda., and Oleoquímica
do Nordeste Ltda. into Ultracargo - Operações Logísticas
e Participações Ltda. (new name of Ultraquímica Participações
Ltda.), in order to reduce costs. |
| --- | --- |
| 4. | TEMPORARY
CASH INVESTMENTS |
| | These investments,
contracted with leading banks, are substantially comprised of fixed-income
securities and funds linked to the interbank deposit certificates (CDI)
rate and of currency swaps, which are stated at cost plus accrued income
(on a “pro rata temporis” basis). |

Company — 2003 2002 Consolidated — 2003 2002
Fixed-income securities and funds 23,383 78,984 489,490 417,879
Foreign investments (a) - - 73,631 127,019
Net expenses (income) from swap operations (b) - - (55,774 ) 39,472
23,383 78,984 507,347 584,370

| | (a) | Investments
made by the indirect subsidiary Oxiteno Overseas Co., mainly in fixed-income
securities, money market funds, investment grade U.S. corporate securities,
and Brazilian corporate securities. |
| --- | --- | --- |
| | (b) | Accumulated
gain or loss on swap positions (see Note 18). |
| 5. | ACCOUNTS
RECEIVABLE (CONSOLIDATED) | |

Local customers 2003 — 299,805 2002 — 251,246
Foreign customers 71,371 81,373
(-) Advances on foreign
exchange contracts (31,546 ) (43,400 )
(-) Allowance for doubtful
accounts (17,307 ) (11,207 )
322,323 278,012
6. INVENTORIES (CONSOLIDATED)
2003 2002
Finished products 78,403 67,565
Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) 22,736 7,908
Raw material 25,438 20,070
Consumption materials and cylinders for resale 11,131 10,707
137,708 106,250

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Ultrapar Participações S.A. and Subsidiaries

| RECOVERABLE
TAXES |
| --- |
| Represented,
substantially, by credit balances of ICMS (State VAT), IPI (Federal VAT),
and prepaid income and social contribution taxes, for offset against future
taxes payable. |

Company — 2003 2002 Consolidated — 2003 2002
Income and social contribution taxes 13,260 13,744 64,244 68, 288
ICMS - - 40,736 42,561
IPI - - 2,845 1,876
Other 41 - 7,687 2,335
13,301 13,744 115,512 115,060

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Ultrapar Participações S.A. and Subsidiaries

  1. RELATED COMPANIES

| | Company — Loans | | Consolidated — Loans | | Trade
accounts | | Transactions | | Financial
income (expense) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| | Assets | Liabilities | Assets | Liabilities | Receivable | Payable | Sales | Purchases | |
| Ultracargo
- Operações Logísticas e Participações
Ltda. | - | 364,709 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Oxiteno
Nordeste S.A. - Indùstria e Comércio | - | 33,000 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Serma
Associaçõo dos Usuários de Equipamentos de Processamentos
de Dados
e Serviços Correlatos | 66 | 613 | 1,171 | 613 | - | 774 | - | - | - |
| Petroquímica
União S.A. | - | - | - | - | - | 3,536 | - | 93,741 | - |
| Oxicap
Indústria de Gases Ltda. | - | - | 206 | - | - | 608 | 2 | 6,547 | - |
| Agip
do Brasil S.A. | - | - | - | - | 29 | - | 2,648 | - | - |
| Companhia
Ultragaz S.A. | 51,545 | 10 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Química
da Bahia Indústria e Comércio S.A. | - | - | - | 7,248 | - | - | - | - | (757) |
| Imaven
Imóveis e Agropecuária Ltda. | - | 22,658 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Petróleo
Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras | - | - | - | - | - | 1,302 | 42 | 1,818,654 | - |
| Copagaz
Distribuidora de Gás S.A. | - | - | - | - | 13 | - | 330 | - | - |
| Braskem
S.A. | - | - | - | - | - | 4,124 | 53,306 | 403,423 | - |
| Supergasbras
Distribuidora de Gás S.A. | - | - | - | - | 3 | - | 914 | - | - |
| Cia.
Termelétrica do Planalto Paulista - TPP | - | - | 1,257 | - | - | - | - | - | 173 |
| Plenogás
- Distribuidora de Gás S.A. | - | - | - | 871 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Other
related companies | - | 643 | 125 | 257 | 15 | 427 | 584 | 1,455 | - |
| Total
as of December 31, 2003 | 51,611 | 421,633 | 2,759 | 8,989 | 60 | 10,771 | 57,826 | 2,323,820 | (584) |
| Total
as of December 31, 2002 | 46,694 | 458,597 | 2,603 | 10,217 | 457 | 31,896 | 46,931 | 1,678,700 | (374) |

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Ultrapar Participações S.A. and Subsidiaries

| | The loan
balances with Química da Bahia Indústria e Comércio
S.A. and Cia. Termelétrica do Planalto Paulista - TPP are indexed
based on the Brazilian long-term interest rate (TJLP). The other loans do
not have financial charges. Transactions refer principally to purchases
of raw material, other materials and storage services, carried out at usual
market prices and conditions. | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| | The loan
agreement with Ultracargo - Operações Logísticas e
Participações Ltda. (new name of Ultraquímica Participações
Ltda.) results from the sale of shares issued by Oxiteno S.A. - Indústria
e Comércio to the Company, intended to avoid the reciprocal shareholdings
related to the corporate reorganization mentioned in Note 3. | |
| 9. | INCOME AND
SOCIAL CONTRIBUTION TAXES | |
| | a) | Deferred income and
social contribution taxes |
| | | The Company and its
subsidiaries recognize tax assets and liabilities which do not expire, arising
from tax loss carryforwards, temporary add-backs, revaluation of property,
plant and equipment, and others. The tax credits are substantiated by continued
operating profitability. Management expects to realize these tax credits
over a maximum period of three years. Deferred income and social contribution
taxes are presented in the following principal categories: |

Company — 2003 2002 Consolidated — 2003 2002
Noncurrent assets:
Deferred income and social contribution taxes on:
Accruals tax-deductible only when expenses are
incurred 2,576 2,033 48,574 27,605
Income and social contribution tax loss
carryforwards - - 12,793 5,652
2,576 2,033 61,367 33,257
Long-term liabilities:
Deferred income and social contribution taxes on:
Revaluation of property, plant and equipment - - 2,072 2,113
Income earned abroad - - 26,624 32,678
- - 28,696 34,791

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Ultrapar Participações S.A. and Subsidiaries

b)
Income and social contribution
taxes are reconciled to official tax rates as follows:
Company — 2003 2002 Consolidated — 2003 2002
Income before taxes, equity in subsidiaries and
associates and minority interest 14,444 14,712 295,342 349,980
Official tax rates - % 34.00 34.00 34.00 34.00
Income and social contribution taxes at official
rates (4,911 ) (5,002 ) (100,416 ) (118,993 )
Adjustments to the effective tax rate:
Operating provisions and nondeductible
expenses/nontaxable revenues 35 31 2,363 (1,217 )
Adjustments to estimated income - - 1,137 3,094
Interest on capital (received) paid - (1,870 ) - 157
Other - 24 (637 ) 1,328
Income and social contribution taxes before tax
benefits (4,876 ) (6,817 ) (97,553 ) (115,631 )
Tax benefits:
Workers’ meal program (PAT) - - 330 721
Income and social contribution taxes in the
statement of income (4,876 ) (6,817 ) (97,223 ) (114,910 )
Current (5,419 ) (7,260 ) (112,953 ) (110,067 )
Deferred 543 443 15,730 (4,843 )

| c) |
| --- |
| The following indirect
subsidiaries have partial or total exemption from income tax in connection
with a government program for the development of the Northeast Region of
Brazil, as follows: |

Subsidiary Bases Exemption - % Expiration date
Oxiteno Nordeste S.A. - Indústria e Comércio Camaçari plant 100 2006
Bahiana Distribuidora de Gás Ltda. Mataripe base (*) 100 2003
Juazeiro base 100 2004
Suape base 100 2007
Ilhéus base 25 2008
Aracaju base 25 2008
Terminal Químico de Aratu S.A. - Tequimar Aratu Terminal (*) 100 2003
Suape Terminal (storage of acetic
acid and butadiene byproducts) 100 2005

(*) In December 2003, requests were filed with Agência de Desenvolvimento do Nordeste (ADENE), the agency in charge of managing this incentive program, seeking a 75% reduction in income tax until 2013 for these bases. Such requests are still pending approval by ADENE. In case they are not approved, the income tax reduction of these bases will be 25% until 2008 and 12.5% from 2009 until 2013.

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Ultrapar Participações S.A. and Subsidiaries

| | Tax benefits
from income tax reduction for activities eligible for tax incentives were
recorded in a specific capital reserve account in stockholders’ equity
by the subsidiaries benefited from tax incentives. These benefits were recognized
in income by the Company through the equity pick-up, as shown in Note 10.b). | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| | The subsidiary
Bahiana Distribuidora de Gás Ltda. has requests under analysis by
the Federal Revenue Authorities relating to Caucaia base, which, once approved,
would represent a reduction of 75% of income tax until 2012 for this base. | |
| 8. | INVESTMENTS | |
| | a) | Subsidiaries of the
Company |

| | Ultragaz Participações Ltda. () | Ultracargo
- Operações Logísticas e Participações Ltda. (
) | Imaven Imóveis e Agropecuária Ltda. () | Oxiteno
S.A. - Indústria e Comércio (
) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Number of shares or | | | | |
| quotas held | 4,336,062 | 2,461,346 | 27,733,974 | 35,102,127 |
| Net equity - R$ | 231,898 | 637,055 | 46,834 | 774,799 |
| Net income for the year - R$ | 27,683 | 6,770 | 4,848 | 181,447 |

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2003 — Ultracargo Participações Ltda. (*) Operacoes Ultragaz Logisticas e Participações Ltda. (*) Ultracargo Participações Ltda. (*) Ultratecno Participações Ltda. (*) Imaven Imoveis e Agropecuária Ltda. (*) Oxiteno S.A. –Indústria e Comercio (*) Subtotal Other Total 2002 — Total
Changes in investments:
Balance at beginning
of year 202,068 512,404 101,949 8,619 41,986 636,392 1,503,418 337 1,503,755 724,377
Provision for losses -- -- -- -- -- -- -- (3 ) (3 ) --
Write-off -- -- -- -- -- -- -- (3 ) (3 ) --
Income taxes on revaluation
reserves
in subsidiaries (45 ) -- (66 ) -- -- -- (111 ) -- (111 ) (252 )
Write-off of revaluation
reserve (6,516 ) -- -- -- -- -- (6,516 ) -- (6,516 ) (700 )
Dividends and interest
(net) on capital receivable -- -- -- -- -- (43,094 ) (43,094 ) -- (43,094 ) (55,605 )
Withholding
tax on interest on capital -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- (825 )
Purchase of shares -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 387,160
Merger of shares (230,576 ) -- -- 230,576 -- -- -- -- -- 191,568
Merger of companies 239,284 117,881 (117,369 ) (239,283 ) -- -- 513 (513 ) -- 43,627
Equity pick-up 27,683 6,770 15,486 88 4,848 181,407 236,282 529 236,811 214,405
Balance at end of
year 231,898 637,055 -- -- 46,834 774,705 1,690,492 347 1,690,839 1,503,755

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b) Affiliated companies (Consolidated)

| | 2003 — Química
da Bahia Indústria e Comércio S.A. () | Oxicap
Indústria de Gases Ltda. (
) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Number of shares or quotas held | 3,174,501 | 125 |
| Adjusted net equity - R$ | 10,118 | 3,797 |
| Net income for the year - R$ | - | 1,384 |
| Ownership percentage - % | 45.56 | 25.00 |

| | 2003 — Química
da Bahia Indústria e Comércio S.A. () | Oxicap Indústria de Gases Ltda. () | Other | | Total | | 2002 — Total | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Changes in investments: | | | | | | | | |
| Balance at beginning of year | 4,610 | 618 | 1,900 | | 7,128 | | 63,033 | |
| Write-off of revaluation reserve | - | - | - | | - | | (2,664 | ) |
| Dividends received | - | - | - | | - | | (430 | ) |
| Equity pick-up | - | 332 | 17 | | 349 | | (1,097 | ) |
| Write-offs | - | - | (1,756 | ) | (1,756 | ) | (11,298 | ) |
| Merger of companies | - | - | - | | - | | (135 | ) |
| Allowance for loss | - | - | - | | - | | (40,551 | ) |
| Balance at end of year | 4,610 | 950 | 161 | | 5,721 | | 7,128 | |

(*) Financial statements audited or reviewed by our independent auditors.
(**) Financial statements audited by other independent auditors.

The consolidated amount of equity pick-up in subsidiary and affiliated companies presented in the statement of income includes R$ 52,409 (2002 - R$ 43,467) of income tax incentives arising substantially from operations in regions eligible for such incentives. In the consolidated financial statements, the investments of subsidiary Oxiteno S.A - Indústria e Comércio in affiliated companies Oxicap Indústria de Gases Ltda. and Química da Bahia Indústria e Comércio S.A are carried under the equity method based on their financial statements as of November 30, 2003.

  1. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT (CONSOLIDATED)

| | Annual depreciation rates - % | Revalued cost | 2003 — Accumulated Revalued depreciation | | Net
book value | 2002 — Net
book value |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Land | - | 46,853 | - | | 46,853 | 47,151 |
| Buildings | 4 to 5 | 356,787 | (123,066 | ) | 233,721 | 211,239 |
| Machinery and equipment | 5 to 10 | 990,265 | (478,515 | ) | 511,750 | 391,405 |
| Vehicles | 20 to 30 | 127,447 | (86,118 | ) | 41,329 | 35,146 |
| Furniture and fixtures | 10 | 15,544 | (5,431 | ) | 10,113 | 7,733 |

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Construction in progress - 46,025 - 46,025 39,141
Imports in transit - 302 - 302 835
Other 10 to 30 117,603 (39,141 ) 78,462 46,817
1,700,826 (732,271 ) 968,555 779,467

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| | Construction
in progress refers mainly to construction of Terminal Líquido de
Santos - TLS and Terminal Intermodal de Montes Claros, both owned by Tequimar,
and renovations of the industrial complexes of the other subsidiaries. Other refers to computer
equipment in the amount of R$ 19,596 (2002 - R$ 13,200), software in the amount
of R$ 29,901 (R$ 2002 - R$ 5,255), and commercial property rights, mainly those
described below: — • | On July 11, 2002, the
subsidiary Terminal Químico de Aratu S.A. - Tequimar won the auction
and signed the contract for use of the site on which it operates the Aratu
Terminal for another 20 years, renewable for the same period. The goodwill
paid by Tequimar amounted to R$ 12,000, and will be amortized over 40 years,
equivalent to annual amortization of R$ 300. |
| --- | --- | --- |
| | • | Further, the subsidiary
Terminal Químico de Aratu S.A. - Tequimar has a lease contract of
the adjacent area to Santos harbor for 20 years beginning December 2002,
renewable for the same period w,hich allows it to build, operate and explore
the terminal, destined to the reception, storage, movement and distribution
of liquid bulk. The price paid by Tequimar was R$ 3,803 and shall be amortized
over a period of five years, starting from the beginning of its operation,
expected for November 2004. |
| 12. | DEFERRED
CHARGES (CONSOLIDATED) | |
| | Represented
substantially by costs incurred in the implementation of systems modernization
projects R$ 3,203 (2002 - R$ 19,866), amortizable over five to ten years,
and expenditures for the installation of Ultrasystem equipment at customers’ locations
R$ 56,836 (2002 - R$ 58,044), to be amortized over the periods of the LPG
supply contracts with these customers. Deferred charges also include the
goodwill from acquisition of SPGás Distribuidora de Gás S.A.,
as stated in Note 3. | |

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  1. FINANCING (CONSOLIDATED)
Description 2003 2002 Annual interest rate - % Maturity and amortization
Foreign currency:
International Finance
Corporation - IFC - 17,736 US$ 9.38
Working capital loan 518 - Mex$ 1.40 28 days
Syndicated loan (*) 173,598 212,503 US$ 4.25 Semiannually until 2004
Financing for inventories and 11,414 3,786 US$ From
7.30 to Semiannually and annually until
property additions 8.00 2004
Advances on foreign exchange 24,896 73,883 US$ From
1.30 to Maximum of 58 days
contracts 5.31
National Bank for Economic and 23,177 28,863 UMBNDES (**) From 9.01 to Monthly until 2008
Social Development (BNDES) 10.91
National Bank for Economic and
Social Development (BNDES)
- Exim - 17,849 US$ 5.25
Export prepayments, net of From 4.10 to Monthly, semiannually and annually
linked operations 205,082 23,165 US$ 6.85 until 2008
Subtotal 438,685 377,785
Local currency:
National Bank for Economic and TJLP or From 1.50 to Monthly and semiannually until
Social Development (BNDES) 159,341 181,995 IGP-M 6.50 2008
FINAME 28,864 23,665 TJLP From 1.80 to Monthly until 2008
4.00
Onlending operations 5,256 - TJLP (2.00) Monthly until 2009
Other - 21 Various
Subtotal 193,461 205,681
Total financing 632,146 583,466
Current liabilities (325,877 ) (219,827 )
Long-term liabilities 306,269 363,639
(*) On December 11, 2003, the subsidiary LPG International Inc. renegotiated the interest of 7.15% per year to 4.25% per year.
(**) UMBNDES = BNDES monetary unit. This is a “basket” of currencies representing the composition of BNDES’ debt. 76% of this “basket” is linked to the U.S. dollar.

The long-term portion matures as follows:

2003 2002
2004 - 273,270
2005 160,770 43,145
2006 94,656 32,535
2007 34,599 12,920
2008 and thereafter 16,244 1,769
306,269 363,639

In June 1997, the subsidiary Companhia Ultragaz S.A. issued Eurobonds in the total amount of US$ 60 million, maturing in 2005, with put/call options in 2002, and guaranteed by Ultrapar Participações S.A. and Ultragaz Participações Ltda. In June 2002, the subsidiary LPG International Inc. exercised the call option for these securities using funds from a loan in the same amount, maturing in August 2004 and prepaid in January 2004 as stated in Note 22.

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The financing is collateralized by liens on property, plant and equipment, shareholdings, and promissory notes and guarantees provided by the Company and its subsidiaries, as shown below:

2003 2002
Amount of borrowings secured by:
Property, plant and equipment 34,256 26,842
Shares of affiliated companies 17,128 18,164
Minority stockholders’ guarantees 17,642 42,249
69,026 87,255

Other loans are guaranteed either by the Company or by the future flow of export. The Company is responsible for sureties and guarantees offered on behalf of its subsidiaries, amounting to R$ 571,406. The subsidiaries issued guarantees to financial institutions related to amounts owed to those institutions by certain of their customers (vendor financing). In the event of payment of such guarantees to those financial institutions, the subsidiaries may recover the amount of such payment directly from their customers through trade collection. Maximum future payments related to these guarantees amount to R$ 19,792 (R$ 7,100 in 2002), with maturities from 30 to 210 days. As of December 31, 2003, the Company has not recorded any liability related to these guarantees.

14. STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
a) Capital
The Company is a public corporation with shares traded on the São
Paulo and New York Stock Exchanges. Subscribed and paid-up capital is represented
by 69,691,268,828 shares without par value, comprised of 51,264,621,778
common and 18,426,647,050 preferred shares.
On December 31, 2003,
4,823,058 thousand preferred shares were outstanding in the U.S. market,
in the form of American Depositary Receipts - ADRs.
Preferred shares are
nonconvertible into common shares and nonvoting, and entitle their holders
to minimum dividends at least 10% higher than those attributable to common
shares, and priority in capital redemption, without premium, in the event
of liquidation of the Company.
b) Treasury
shares
The Company
was authorized to acquire its own shares at market price, without

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capital reduction, to be held in treasury and subsequent disposal, in accordance with the provisions set forth by Brazilian Securities Commission (CVM) Instructions No. 10, of February 14, 1980, and No. 268, of November 13, 1997.

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| | In 2003,
87,900 thousand preferred shares were acquired at the average cost of
R$ 24.73, with a minimum cost of R$ 22.50 and a maximum cost of R$ 31.30
per thousand shares. As of December 31,
2003, the consolidated financial statements recorded 108,100 thousand
preferred shares in treasury, which were acquired at the average cost
of R$ 23.79 per thousand shares. The market price
of shares issued by the Company on December 31, 2003 on the São
Paulo Stock Exchange (BOVESPA) was R$ 37.29 per thousand shares. |
| --- | --- |
| c) | Capital reserve |
| | The capital reserve
in the amount of R$ 1,152 reflects the goodwill on disposal of shares issued
by the Company to be held in treasury in some of the Company’s subsidiaries,
at the price of R$ 34.87 per thousand shares. Executives
of these subsidiaries were given the usufruct of such shares, as described
in Note 20. |
| d) | Revaluation reserve |
| | This reserve reflects
the revaluation write-up of assets of subsidiaries and affiliated companies
and is realized based upon depreciation, write-off or sale of revalued
assets, including the related tax effects. In some cases, taxes
on the revaluation reserve of certain subsidiaries and affiliated companies
are recognized only on realization of this reserve since the revaluations
occurred prior to the publication of CVM Resolution No. 183/95. Deferred
tax charges on these reserves total R$ 7,641 (2002 - R$ 8,553). |
| e) | Reserve for retention
of profits |
| | This reserve is supported
by the investment program, in conformity with article 196 of Brazilian
corporate law and includes both a portion of net income and realization
of revaluation reserves. |
| f) | Realizable profits
reserve |
| | This reserve is established
in conformity with article 197 of Brazilian corporate law, based on the
equity in subsidiaries and affiliated companies. The reserve realization
normally occurs on receipt of dividends, sale and write-off of investments. |
| g) | Dividends and appropriation
of net income |
| | According to the Company’s
bylaws, the stockholders are entitled to a minimum annual dividend of 50%
of adjusted net income, calculated under the terms of accounting practices
adopted in Brazil. |

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Proposed dividends as stated in the Company’s financial statements, subject to approval at the Stockholders’ Annual Meeting, are as follows:

Net income 2003 — 246,379
Legal reserve (12,319 )
Retention of profits (117,031 )
Realization of realizable profits reserve 40,593
Compulsory dividends 157,622
Recognition of realizable profits reserve (85,622 )
Interim dividends (R$ 0.461996 and R$ 0.508195 per thousand
common
and preferred shares, respectively) (33,000 )
Proposed
complementary dividends payable (R$ 0.545231 and R$0.599754
per
thousand common and preferred shares, respectively) (39,000 )

| | Management
proposes to retain the balance of net income in the “Reserve for | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| | retention
of profits” account, in order to support the business expansion project | | |
| | established
in its investment plan. | -- | |
| h) | Reconciliation of stockholders’ equity - Company and Consolidated | | |
| | Stockholders’ equity
- Company | 1,360,289 | |
| | Treasury
shares held by subsidiaries, net of realization | (2,453 | ) |
| | Capital reserve
arising from sale of treasury shares to subsidiaries, | | |
| | net
of realization | (1,143 | ) |
| | Stockholders’ equity
- Consolidated | 1,356,693 | |

15. NONOPERATING (EXPENSES) INCOME, NET (CONSOLIDATED)
Refers principally
to the result on sales of permanent assets, especially cylinders (2002 - refers
principally to the recognition of provision for loss, in the amount R$ 40,551,
of the investment of Oxiteno Nordeste S.A. - Indústria e Comércio
in Nordeste Química S.A. - Norquisa).
16. RECONCILIATION OF EBITDA (CONSOLIDATED)
The EBITDA
(earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) is calculated
by the Company, as shown in the table below:

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Ultragaz Oxiteno 2003 — Ultracargo Other Consolidated 2002 — Consolidated
Operating income 46,071 246,975 29,085 24,098 346,229 435,807
(-) Equity in subsidiaries
and (3,313 ) (48,279 ) (3,635 ) 3,333 (51,894 ) (41,760 )
affiliated companies
(+/-) Financial income 70,420 8,238 (744 ) (20,666 ) 57,248 (28,509 )
(+) Depreciation and
amortization 95,059 36,238 15,317 256 146,870 121,803
EBITDA 208,237 243,172 40,023 7,021 498,453 487,341

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| 17. |
| --- |
| The Company has three
reportable segments: gas, chemical and logistics. The gas segment distributes
LPG to retail, commercial and industrial consumers mainly in the South,
Southeast and Northeast areas of Brazil. The chemical segment produces
primarily ethylene oxide, ethylene glycols, ethanolamines and glycol
ethers. The logistics segment operates storage and transportation, mainly
in the Southeast and Northeast areas of the country. Reportable segments
are strategic business units that offer different products and services.
Intersegment sales are transacted at prices approximating those that
the selling entity is able to obtain on external sales. |
| The principal financial
information about each of the Company’s reportable segments is as
follows: |

Ultragaz Oxiteno 2003 — Ultracargo Other Consolidated 2002 — Consolidated
Net sales, net of related-party transactions 2,622,253 1,237,793 140,177 86 4,000,309 2,994,506
Operating
income before financial income (expenses) and equity in subsidiaries and affiliated
companies 113,179 206,935 24,707 6,762 351,583 365,538
EBITDA 208,237 243,172 40,023 7,021 498,453 487,341
Total assets, net of related parties 984,577 1,067,487 272,316 27,887 2,352,267 2,127,913

| 18. |
| --- |
| The main risk factors
to which the Company and its subsidiaries are exposed reflect strategic-operating
and economic-financial aspects. Strategic-operating risks (such as demand
behavior, competition, technological innovation, and significant structural
changes in industry, among others) are addressed by the Company’s management
model. Economic-financial risks mainly reflect customer default, macroeconomic
variables such as exchange and interest rates, as well as the characteristics
of the financial instruments used by the Company. These risks are managed
through control policies, specific strategies and the determination of limits,
as follows: |

| • | Customer
default - These risks are managed by specific policies for accepting customers
and credit analysis and are mitigated by diversification of sales. Oxiteno
S.A. - Indústria e Comércio and Oxiteno Nordeste S.A. - Indústria
e Comércio held R$ 3,522 (2002 - R$ 6,833) and Ultragaz Participações
S.A. held R$ 17,367 (2002 - R$ 8,251) of allowances for potential losses
on receivables as of December 31, 2003. The increase in the accrual of
Companhia Ultragaz S.A. is composed substantially of accruals already existing
in Shell’s LPG business, acquired on August 8, 2003. |
| --- | --- |
| • | Interest rates - The
Company and its subsidiaries adopt conservative |

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policies to obtain and invest funds and to minimize the cost of capital. The temporary cash investments of the Company and its subsidiaries are comprised substantially of transactions linked to interbank deposit (CDI) rates, as described in Note 4. A portion of the financial assets is destined for foreign currency hedges, as mentioned below. Funds obtained originate from BNDES financing and from abroad, as mentioned in Note 13.

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• Exchange rate - The subsidiaries of the Company use foreign currency swap (mainly US$ to CDI) instruments available in the financial market to cover assets and liabilities in foreign currency, with the objective of reducing the effects of exchange rates variation in their results. Such swaps have amounts, periods and indexes equivalent to the assets and liabilities in foreign currency, to which they are linked. The following summary shows the assets and liabilities in foreign currency, translated into Brazilian reais at December 31, 2003:

Book value
Assets:
Investments in foreign currency and swaps 395,361
Foreign cash and cash equivalents 77,589
Receivables from foreign customers, net of advances
on export contracts 27,979
Total 500,929
Liabilities:
Foreign currency financing 438,685
Import payables 9,988
Total 448,673
Net asset position 52,256

| Given the
characteristics of the financial instruments described, the management
of the Company and its subsidiaries believe that market values approximate
book values of these financial instruments. The exchange rate variation
related to cash and banks, temporary cash investments and investments of
foreign subsidiaries abroad was recorded as financial expense in the statement
of income for the year 2003, in the amount of R$ 24,251 (2002 - financial
income of R$ 44,087). Other financial instruments recorded in the financial
statements as of December 31, 2003 were determined in conformity with the
accounting criteria and practices described in the respective notes. — CONTINGENCIES
AND COMMITMENTS (CONSOLIDATED) | |
| --- | --- |
| a) | Civil, tax and labor
lawsuits |
| | The Petrochemical Industry
Labor Union, of which the employees of Oxiteno Nordeste S.A. - Indústria
e Comércio are members, filed a
class action against the subsidiary in 1990, demanding compliance with
the adjustments established in collective labor agreements, in lieu of
the salary policies effectively followed. At the same time, the employers’ association
proposed a collective labor dispute for the interpretation and clarification
of the fourth clause of the agreement. Based on the opinion of its legal
counsel, who analyzed the decision of the |

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Federal Supreme Court (STF) in the collective dispute as well as the status of the individual lawsuit of the subsidiary, management believes that a reserve for a potential loss is not necessary as of December 31, 2003.

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The subsidiary Companhia Ultragaz S.A. is a defendant in lawsuits relating to damages caused by an explosion in 1996 in a shopping mall in the city of Osasco, state of São Paulo. Such lawsuits involve (i) individual suits filed by victims of the explosion claiming damages from Ultragaz for the loss of economic benefit and for pain and suffering; (ii) reimbursement of expenses of the management of the shopping mall and its insurance company; (iii) class action seeking indemnification for material damages and pain and suffering for all the victims injured and deceased. The subsidiary believes that it has presented evidence that defective gas pipes in the shopping mall caused the accident and that Ultragaz’s on-site LPG storage facilities did not contribute to the explosion. It has obtained a favorable judgment in all lawsuits which have been judged to date. Further, Ultragaz also believes that its insurance coverage is sufficient to cover the aggregate amount of all claims filed. The Company and its subsidiaries obtained injunctions to pay PIS and COFINS (taxes on revenues) without changes introduced by Law No. 9,718/98 in its original version. The questioning refers to the levy of these taxes on gains other than revenues. The unpaid amounts were recorded in the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, totaling R$ 30,498 (2002 - R$ 24,119). The main fiscal discussions of the Company and subsidiaries refer to the taxation of PIS and COFINS (as detailed in the preceding paragraph) and the taxation of income earned abroad (as stated in Note 9.a)). The potential losses on these discussions are accrued in noncurrent assets as other taxes and deferred income and social contribution taxes, respectively. The Company and its subsidiaries have other ongoing administrative and judicial proceedings; legal counsel consider the risks to be low or remote and, therefore, no reserves for potential losses on these proceedings have been recorded. Although there is no assurance that the Company will prevail in all cases, management does not believe that the ultimate resolution of tax, civil and labor contingencies not provided for will have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations. Escrow deposits and provisions are summarized below:

2003 — Escrow deposits Provision 2002 — Escrow deposits Provision
Social contribution tax on net income 31 2,917 - 2,917
Labor claims 7,433 914 4,493 1,536
PIS and COFINS on other gains 58 30,498 105 24,119
Other 2,382 6,570 2,394 -
9,904 40,899 6,992 28,572

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| b) |
| --- |
| The subsidiary
Terminal Químico de Aratu S.A - Tequimar has contracts with
CODEBA - Companhia Docas do Estado da Bahia and Complexo Industrial
Portuário Governador Eraldo Gueiros, in connection with its
harbor facilities in Aratu and Suape, respectively. Such contracts
establish minimum cargo movement of 1,000,000 tons per year for Aratu,
effective through 2022, and 250,000 tons per year for Suape, effective
through 2027. If annual movement is less than the minimum required,
the subsidiary is required to pay the difference between the actual
movement and the minimum contractual movement using the harbor rates
in effect at the date established for payment. As of December 31, 2003,
such rates were R$ 3.67 and R$ 3.44 per ton for Aratu and Suape, respectively.
The Company has been in compliance with the minimum cargo movement
since the inception of the contracts. Oxiteno Nordeste
S.A. - Indústria e Comércio has a supply contract with
Braskem S.A., effective through 2012, which establishes a minimum annual
ethylene consumption level. The minimum purchase commitment and the
actual demand for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, expressed
in tons of ethylene, are summarized below. If the minimum purchase
commitment is not met, the subsidiary is liable for a fine of 40% of
the current ethylene price for the quantity not purchased. |

Actual demand
Minimum
purchase
commitment 2003 2002
In tons 137,900 188,850 164,534

| c) |
| --- |
| Subsidiaries maintain
insurance policies in amounts considered sufficient to cover potential
losses from damage to assets, as well as for civil responsibility for involuntary,
material and/or physical damages caused to third parties arising from their
industrial and commercial operations, considering the nature of their activities
and the advice of their insurance consultants. |

| 20. |
| --- |
| At the Extraordinary Stockholders’ Meeting held on November 26, 2003,
a benefit plan was approved for the management of the Company and its subsidiaries,
which provides for: (i) the initial grant of usufruct of shares issued
by the Company and held in treasury by subsidiaries in which the beneficiaries
are recorded; (ii) the transfer of the beneficial ownership of the shares
after ten years from the initial concession provided that the professional
relationship between the beneficiary and the Company and subsidiaries is
not interrupted. The total value granted to executives in 2003, including
taxes, was R$ 4,960. This value will be amortized over |

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| | a period
of ten years. The amortized amount in 2003 was R$ 42, which was recorded
as operating expense. |
| --- | --- |
| 21. | EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
AND PRIVATE PENSION PLAN (CONSOLIDATED) |
| | The Company and
its subsidiaries offer benefits to their employees, such as life insurance,
health care and pension plan. In addition, loans for the acquisition
of vehicles and personal computers are available to employees of certain
subsidiaries. These benefits are recorded on the accrual basis and
terminate at the end of the employment relationship. In August 2001,
the Company and its subsidiaries began to provide a defined contribution
pension plan to their employees. Adoption of this plan, managed by
Ultraprev - Associação de Previdência Complementar,
was approved at the Board of Directors’ Meeting on February 15,
2001. Under the terms of the plan, the basic contribution of each participating
employee is defined annually by the participant between 0% and 11%
of his/her salary. The sponsoring companies provide a matching contribution
in an identical amount as the basic contribution. As participants retire,
they may opt to receive monthly: (i) a percentage varying between 0.5%
and 1.0% of the fund accumulated in their name at Ultraprev, or (ii)
a fixed monthly amount which will extinguish the fund accumulated in
the participant’s name during a period of between 5 and 25 years.
As such, neither the Company nor its subsidiaries assume responsibility
for guaranteeing the levels of amounts or periods of receipt for the
participants that retire under this plan. In 2003, the Company and
its subsidiaries contributed R$ 3,355 to Ultraprev, which was charged
to income for the year. The total number of employee participants as
of December 31, 2003 was 5,115, with no participants retired to date. Additionally, Ultraprev
has 2 active participants and 34 former employees receiving defined
benefits according to the policies of a previous plan. Considering
that the fair market value for the plan’s assets significantly
exceeds the present actuarial value of the accumulated benefit obligations,
the sponsoring entities have not been contributing to the plan for
these 36 participants. On the other hand, the sponsoring entities do
not believe that it would be possible to recover any amounts from the
plan, based on legislation applicable to closed private pension entities.
As a result, no asset or liability relating to these participants has
been recorded in the financial statements of the sponsoring companies. |
| 22. | SUBSEQUENT EVENT |
| | In January 2004,
the subsidiary LPG International Inc. issued Eurobonds in the amount
of US$ 60 million, maturing in June 2005 and having an interest rate
of 3.5% per year. Funds from issuance were used to repay loans, as stated
in Note 13. |

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

| /s/
Fabio Schvartsman | |
| --- | --- |
| Name: | Fabio Schvartsman |
| Title: | Chief Financial
Officer |

Date: March, 2004

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